Week 6(a):

An overview of
Interventions
Acknowledgement of sources
Text: Waddell, Cummings & Worley (2000).
Other sources: French & Bell (1999); Senior (1997)
 Learning Objectives

• To discuss criteria for effective

interventions
• To discuss issues, considerations,
constraints, ingredients, and processes
associated with intervention design
• To give an overview of the various
interventions used in the book
 Definition of Interventions

An intervention is a set of sequenced

and planned actions or events intended
to help the organisation increase its
effectiveness.

Interventions purposely disrupt the

status quo.
 Characteristics of
Effective Interventions
• Is it relevant to the needs of the
organisation?
– Valid information
– Free and Informed Choice
– Internal Commitment
• Is it based on causal knowledge of
intended outcomes?
• Does it transfer competence to manage
change to organisation members?
 The Design of
Effective Interventions
• Contingencies Related to the Change
Situation
- Readiness for change
- Cultural context
- Capability to change
- Capabilities of the Change Agent

• Contingencies Related to the Target of

Change
 Intervention Overview

• Human Process Interventions

• Technostructural Interventions
• Human Resources Management
Interventions
• Strategic Interventions
 Strategic issues

• What products, functions, services,

markets
• How to gain competitive advantage
• How to relate to the environment
• What values will guide organisational
functioning
 Strategic Interventions
• Integrated Strategic Change
• Transorganisation Development
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Culture Change
• Self-designing Organisations
• Organization Learning and Knowledge
Management
 Technology & structure issues

• How to divide labour

• How to co-ordinate departments
• How to produce products or services
• How to design work
 Technostructural Interventions

• Structural Design
• Downsizing
• Reengineering
• Employee Involvement
• Work Design
 Human Process issues

• How to communicate
• How to solve issues
• How to make decisions
• How to interact
• How to lead
 Human Process Interventions

• T-Groups
• Process Consultation and Team Building
• Third-party Interventions (Conflict
Resolution)
• Organisation Confrontation Meeting
• Intergroup Relationships
• Large-group Interventions
• Grid Organisation Development
 Human Resource issues

• How to attract competent people

• How to set goals & reward people
• How to plan & develop people’s
careers
 Human Resources Management
Interventions
• Goal Setting
• Performance Appraisal
• Reward Systems
• Career Planning and Development
• Managing Work Force Diversity
• Employee Wellness